We recently connected with Laura Bashore and have shared our conversation below.

Laura, appreciate you joining us today. How do you think about vacations as a business owner? Do you take them and if so, how? If you don’t, why not?

The holiday season is fast approaching, and we have an extra dose of anxiety as entrepreneurs. Should I take a holiday? The answer is – YES!

My network is full of entrepreneurs and they are regularly shocked by how often I travel. However, I believe I don’t have enough holidays. So what’s the secret?

Well, are you running your business or is your business running you?

I set boundaries.

I grew up with a father who ran his own business. In my childhood, we took ONE family vacation. So I swore when I grew up I would never own my business. Who wants the hassle and grind?

The joke is, that once you get a taste of running your successful business, you can’t go back.

My journey as an entrepreneur began because my family needed me at home. I never forget how I started. When I feel myself drifting towards overwhelm or burnout, I know I need a break.

My clients wait for me to return or ask me to refer them to a trusted business partner. And that is the key. Grow your network so have resources for your clients when you are gone. Set your Out of Office on your email and GO!

You work too hard to ignore your needs.

Laura, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I began my first business, Anew Resume and Career Services over eight years ago. My family consists of my husband, two boys, and our dog.

My venture into entrepreneurship began when I realized I needed a flexible schedule. Working with my clients without restraints has been the best gift of my career. I partner with clients to determine transferable skills, which I believe makes all the difference in career advancement.

My 1:1 services include resumes, LinkedIn profiles, salary negotiation, interview prep, public speaking, and performance evaluations.

I’m also a public speaker at conferences and events, and I train company employees on a range of topics. Recently I delivered a Salary Negotiation webinar for California State University of Los Angeles and in-person presentations for The National Resume Writers’ Association annual conference on LinkedIn Branding and Perfecting the 20-Minute Consultation.

In June 2023, my colleague Mary Fain Brandt and I launched our Podcast – Redefine Your Career Journey. We help our listeners become the CEOs of their careers.

You can find it wherever you listen to your podcasts.

I now own three successful businesses. One thing I discuss with my clients and audience is the need to create their own mission statement. Think about it, when you research a business you look for the mission statement. Your employer wants you to buy into this statement. But how do you focus on YOUR career advancement? I suggest creating your own statement to help guide you.

Here’s mine: To stay true to my values and ethics while advancing my career, family, and community engagement. Take risks, listen to others, and remain approachable.

We constantly hear that we need to be authentic. But you can’t do that if you don’t make time to focus on what you want. That is how you take control of your career.

Let’s move on to buying businesses – can you talk to us about your experience with business acquisitions?

I’ve purchased two businesses in the last four years. And these two businesses are in different industries and have different business formats as well.

Classic Transmission Solutions is an eCommerce business that my husband and I purchased from my father. My dad inherited his mechanic business from my grandfather and turned it into an online shop selling classic transmission parts. We had a business lawyer draw up the paperwork and walk us all through the process. My husband handles day-to-day operations and loves it. And my father was able to pass down the family business to his only child, me.

TEAM Referral Network is a franchise. I was a member of the business networking organization for four years and credited it with helping me scale my business through referrals, business partners, and community awareness. I was approached in late 2022 to see if I was interested in purchasing the San Diego County territory. I said YES! Again, I worked with a lawyer and tax specialist to walk me through the process.

My tips
When you acquire a business always hire a professional.
Know the product/service and have a true connection with the business.
Hire a coach if you’ve never run a business before. All the successful people do!

Any insights you can share with us about how you built up your social media presence?

It was not until I realized the power of LinkedIn that I began to control my business. As a new business owner eight years ago, I didn’t have the budget to compete in other social media spaces. LinkedIn is free. Or you can use the Prime feature for a small monthly fee, which I recommend.

When I began with LinkedIn, I used it to gain knowledge of my potential clients. As a career services professional I understood the need to utilize LinkedIn for job search. However, I began seeing professionals use the platform to share their knowledge, ideas, and engage with an audience.

I made the decision to learn how to brand myself. And the results were immediate. In 2023 I was recognized as one of the top 15 LinkedIn experts in San Diego.

But more than that, today I had a consultation with a client who found me on LinkedIn. No paid add, nothing by my idea sharing attracted this client. Also, the average LinkedIn user has a higher household income than Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok.

Another benefit is my ability to connect with professionals, organizations, and leaders whom I may not come across outside of the platform.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://arcresume.com/
• Instagram: anewresumeandcareerservices
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/arcresume
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lauraobashore
• Other: Podcast: https://redefineyourcareerjourney.buzzsprout.com/